The Boy In The Bow Tie (edited)

10. Symbolic

He stayed for dinner with my and my grandma that night, and I prepared spaghetti-o's because my grandma was too tired to make dinner.

"Oh wow, you're a world-class chef," Connor joked as I set his bowl in front of him. He and my grandmother had been talking about what a great man my grandfather was.

We ate and talked. I was dining with two of my favorite people and things were beginning to become okay.

The next day, my grandmother insisted that I go to lunch with Laurel and Keaton. We went to a little diner downtown.

"I missed you guys," I said, as I hugged them.

"We've missed you too!" Laurel replied, as we sat down in a booth.

"Yeah, we were so devastated when we read about your grandfather's death in the paper. I'm so sorry Charlie," Keaton said, wrapping her arm around my shoulder, squeezing me.

"It's okay, guys. He had a long, wonderful life. He wouldn't wanted me to be sad about his passing," I said, wanting to drop the subject.

"Okay. Then let's move on. Connor. How are you two?" Laurel asked, scanning the menu.

"He came over yesterday and we talked. We're okay now."

"Oh good! I'm so glad to hear that. I think you're perfect for each other," Laurel complimented.

"Yeah, and Caroline was such a bitch," Keaton added. I felt Laurel kick Keaton under the table, "Oh sorry," she said, sheepishly.

"It's okay. Brooks told me she was a bitch," I said. I filled them in on all the drama as we ate our french fries. It felt nice to be with them again.

I split my time remaining time between Connor and my grandmother. My grandmother was falling back into her usual routine which was good. A month and a half had passed since my grandfather's death, and she was going back to her usual self, slowly, but surely. We had sorted out all the details of his will and his funeral, and everything was taken care of. I no longer had to stay to help her.

"Well, that's the last signature," I said, as I took the document for the funeral out of her hands.

"Thank you so much for all of your help Charlotte," my grandmother said, squeezing my hand and smiling at me.

"I'm glad to be here to help," I replied, sweetly. She stood up, and kissed my forehead before heading up to bed. She added, "and don't worry about having to leave. I'll tell your parents there were complications with the will, so you can stay." I laughed when she told me that, grateful. I had as much time as I wanted with Connor. Until the end of summer. Which was in a month.

"Hey," I said, as Connor picked up his phone.

"Hi," he replied.

"Let's do something."

"Like what?" He asked, his voice full of anticipation. I could almost see the devilish smirk on his face.

"I don't really care as long as I'm with you," I said, charmingly.

"I'll be over to pick you up in ten."

I told my grandmother I'd be back by eleven, but she told me that she told me that I "better not be home until the morning". Grandmother of the year award goes to Marge Olson.

I got in his car and he pulled me to him for a kiss. It began slow, but then he began to get more aggressive. I leaned back from him and he pouted.

"Not in your car, in front of my grandmother's house," I scolded. He groaned and drove us to his house.

We were greeted by his parents who were in the family room watching a movie. I smiled and made quick small talk before following Connor to his room.

He pulled me into him as he sat on the bed and we kissed. He pulled me down next to him so that he could look at me. We smiled at each other. He twisted his hand in hair and placed his other hand on the back of my neck as we kissed again and he pulled me closer to him. He was so perfect. It was so perfect. It was another perfect night with the perfect guy.

A week later, he took me on a date. A date on a yacht. A frickin' yacht. It was the largest boat I'd ever seen.

"Is this yours?" I asked, in awe.

"No, a buddy of my dad's." He replied, taking my hand as we stepped onto the large vessel.

It was so nice. The interior was nicer than my house in Iowa and the night sky was the perfect backdrop.

Connor was wearing the same bow tie he had worn on our first date, only now, it looked more wrinkled and damaged.

"What's wrong with your bow tie?" I asked as I straightened it out. It was fraying and wrinkled and had spots of some mysterious item.

"What? Nothing," He replied.

"Um, it's kinda dirty," I said in the nicest way possible.

"I wore it as a symbol, ya know? Because I wore it on our first date. But as I was putting it on, I was also brushing my teeth and some toothpaste fell out of my mouth, and fell onto it, and I tried to wash it off, but apparently that didn't work too well" He explained. I laughed.

"Sorry for making a romantic gesture," He said with mock insult.

"At least you're wearing a bow tie," I consoled, "never in a million years had I ever thought that I'd go on a date on a yacht with a guy in a bow tie."

"And I never thought I'd go on a date with a girl from Iowa," he joked.

"Yet here we are."

"Here we are."